For the first time since 1996, the U.S. government ground to a halt on Oct. 1, 2013. The House of Representatives and the Senate were at odds over funding and all signs pointed to a continuing bitter fight. A deal was finally struck late at night on Oct. 16, and President Obama signed the shutdown-ending bill just after midnight on Oct. 17. The National Law Journal and its sister publications at ALM provided coverage throughout the shutdown, from its effects on federal and district courts to candid reactions from prominent practitioners about the crisis and the resulting deal.
